Oneida County Health piloting new software this week

By Star Journal Staff

Oneida County Health Department (OCHD) is one of nine public health agencies in Wisconsin testing the new COVID-19 Vaccination Registry. The software is expected to be rolled out in increments to participating health departments.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said the software program will help streamline the vaccination process by providing a central scheduling resource.

“The tool will do several things. First, it will screen for eligibility; second, it will guide people in making an appointment, and third, it will then serve as an efficient way, once you arrive at your appointment, to connect your information with the vaccinators and track your vaccine information,” Willems Van Dijk said.

“This registry will be vital in our effort to get all Wisconsinites access to the COVID-19 vaccine,” Gov. Tony Evers said. “It will make it easier for the public to get vaccinated, and assist vaccinators in tracking available supply. It is important to remember that the vaccine supply in Wisconsin is extremely limited and that most people will not be able to get appointments to be vaccinated right away.”

The site will ask for demographic information and a series of questions that will determine eligibility. Those who qualify will be forwarded to a list of vaccination sites where they can schedule an appointment online. An email will be generated with a QR code that will be scanned by volunteers at the vaccination site. After the vaccine, patient information will be sent to the Wisconsin Immunization Registry.

Oneida County is currently vaccinating Phase 1a (front line health care workers) and some groups in 1b (people age 65 and older, police and fire personnel). Anyone outside of these categories is currently ineligible for a vaccine. The registry, however, will put those residents on a waiting list, from which people will be notified when they become eligible.

To register, visit the OCHD website, and click on the yellow circle at the top of the page.

Willems-Van Dijk said the state has 115,000 first doses to distribute to vaccinators this week.
“That represents a 64% increase from mid-January and we have been assured we will have this amount for a least the next three weeks,” she said, adding “An additional 18,000 doses a week are available through Walgreen’s pharmacies.”
That allotment, however, falls “far far short” of the 350,000 doses requested by vaccinators for this week.